I can understand how you are feeling i really can.
Personally i would ask for a specialist app and discuss it with them as they'll be able to give you a clearer picture. There are many different ops depending on the severity of it with complete replacement being the biggest and i was told last week they very rarely have to do that.

My dog's had both legs operated on and the left leg again last week with an even bigger op. It really is heartbreaking knowing what to do for the best.

Thank you all for taking the time to reply.
Bruce is on Metacam and has been been prescribed tramadol today to take alongside (his is insured).

We have spoken to the vet today and have an appointment with a bone specialist in just over a weeks time.

The specialist bone vet (sorry the technical term escapes me) has recommended this complete elbow replacement, however reading up on it and what he has said its a huge risk, and he is going to need his other elbow done eventually, so he will possibly recover and then need to be done again, they will not do both elbows at the same time. This op worries me as it is so new and longer term effects are not known and it does not always work, it feels like a huge gamble.

We could go for the 'flushing' which I believe is less invasive and alot quicker recovery. This could help both elbows and keep him on long term pain relief.

We have to decide what we think is best for him, do we put him through a major operation which may not even work for him to have to go through it all again?
Maybe it will be a success, maybe it will buy him a few more years?
Or is it too much trauma for him to go through twice? He has alreday had a major operation on his back knee and his anal glands removed last year, he is petrified of the vets and I keep asking myself what it best for him.

I am sure the specialist will be able to answer our questions, but I know any kind of decision will be ours and I just don't know whats best... Sarah

Okay, I had a situation where I had to make hard decisions for my Rottie, who was 5 months old when he was diagnosed with Discus Spondylitis, OCD and ED. A rescued Rottie, with no health checks (obviously being a Rescue) anyway, the major part of the surgery was to deal with the Discus Spondylitis (DS), this is where the spinal disc crumbles between the vertebrae. Now the reason I am posting is purely because we didn't know whether to go ahead with surgery or not, he was only 5 months old and there were no guarantees that any of the surgery would work.

After numerous consultations with our vets, thrashing out the pros and cons between us, we decided to go ahead and put him through major surgery on his spine and neck. It worked, eventually. He had to undergo a second operation on his spine as he was still growing and a nerve was being trapped.

He spent 10 months in recovery, no exercise (other than on the lead in the garden) and then we built it up slowly.

It is the best thing I have ever done, he's absolutely fine, in no pain and can run and play with our other Rottie. We have bought him a life! It's been over a year since his surgery and quite honestly he is wonderful, he is walked every day, he runs, plays and has a normal life.

I just wanted to say a bit about making decisions. They are hard and the not knowing is the worst part, but, I'm so glad we did do it. My dog at one point was in so much pain, (before surgery) we drove him to our vets to be put to sleep, they talked me around, giving us options etc. and it really did make me think about how much veterinary medicine has improved over the years. Flint, my dog, has 18 pins holding his neck and spine in place and cement holding the pins in place. Yes, he does feel different and cannot wear a normal collar, but I just wanted to say I do know what you're going through.